Another 26.2

It's always great to finish the final long training run! At least until you remember that you still have a marathon to do in 3 weeks.

Weather was quite nice, almost as perfect as last week except for a humid start.

Eric and I left on time at 6:00 am; Jim joined us at mile 14. It was great to have the extra company for the last third— thanks Jim!

Today's highlight: the first third, when we arrived downtown and yet it barely felt like we had been running for very long. Of course, the remainder of the run cured us of that problem in due time!

Another highlight was the beautiful view from Franklin Avenue (above).

Run stats:

• 65°F
• 22.02 mi.
• 3:35:45
• 9:48 min./mi.
• 2781 calories
• Miles to date: 313.34
• Map of route

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Not that it was warm.

I wore two layers, long-sleeved, for the first time since March. I'm surprised how cold the mid-50s can feel in late May.

Tried taking a self-portrait photo in Gold Medal Park. It turned out pretty strange— it looks like my head is Photoshopped in.

Run stats:

• 55°F
• 3.9 mi.
• 32:25
• 8:19 min./mi.
• 475 calories
• Miles to date: 291.32
• Map of route

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Okay, this is getting ridiculous: I know I've complained about the heat during the past two springs, but it could at least be over 50! Today I ran inside just to stay warm...something I normally do only in January and February. *sigh*

Run stats:

• 49°F
• 3.9 mi.
• 33:25
• 8:34 min./mi.
• 450 calories
• Miles to date: 287.42

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today I thought I would use my 20 mile route from last year. Except that I took the long way around Calhoun, and got off the Midtown Greenway at the wrong point. Together, these changes added another mile.

Eric had a migraine, so he missed out on a fabulous day of running: it was the nicest day for a long run I've had in three years of marathon training.

Stopped for a potty break at Bob's house on E. River Pkwy; he had just gotten back from running 5 miles, so he went back out with me for another. The short visit was a nice mental break.

So I was down one running companion, then up one (briefly), and up one mile. And finished with a sub-10 min. pace. My best long distance performance ever.

Run stats:

• 60°F
• 21.02 mi.
• 2:24:27
• 9:44 min./mi.
• 2635 calories
• Miles to date: 283.52
• Map of route

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 9:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Perfect running weather: sunny and cool.

This may be a PR for this route— I'll need to check on this.

Run stats:

• 58°F
• 3.9 mi.
• 32:17
• 8:17 min./mi.
• 473 calories
• Miles to date: 262.5
• Map of route

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm glad I ran at the normal time; this afternoon wouldn't have been as pleasant. Lunchtime was cool but dry.

Run stats:

• 50°F
• 3.9 mi.
• 33:44
• 8:39 min./mi.
• 458 calories
• Miles to date: 258.6
• Map of route

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 5:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Quite a run today. Stunning weather with sun, but not very hot. And a funny twist to the end.

Today, running with Eric, we stopped at his house for Powerade. Then ran and did our lakes. On the way back, I noted that we needed to run east along the creek to Lyndale Ave. and down to get our full 18 in. He protested and thought that didn't sound right, but I reminded him that I had mapped it out for my run 2 weeks ago, so it had to be right.

Except two weeks ago, we didn't stop at his house for Powerade at the halfway point...

When we reached his house the second time near the end, he comment to Andrea and I that he thought it was a "long 18, maybe 18 and a half". I thought he was being rather optimistic, but replied that I suppose his inner pedometer, tuned during 20 years of distance running, was fairly accurate.

And so it is: we ran 18.57 today. =)

Run stats:

• 55°F
• 18.57 mi.
• 3:03
• 9:51 min./mi.
• 2376 calories
• Miles to date: 254.7
• Map of route

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

U of M Communicators Forum conference today. Way to nice outdoors to stay for the reception, so I left early to run.

Run stats:

• 70°F
• 3.9 mi.
• 32:00
• 8:12 min./mi.
• 469 calories
• Miles to date: 236.13
• Map of route

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 9:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Now that I'm finally in the 21st century and have a mobile phone with a camera, my running journal might finally get interesting!

Run stats:

• 55°F
• 3.9 mi.
• 33:18
• 8:32 min./mi.
• 488 calories
• Miles to date: 232.23
• Map of route

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 1:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today Eric and I ran to St. Paul, turning around in Highland Village in front of the apartment where Katie and I lived from 1995-98. I still miss that neighborhood and it brings back a lot of great memories: medical school (okay, not so great), Sarah being born, going to the Highland Grill, taking the 94 Express downtown for work, and Leeann Chin (again, maybe not so great— but back then, we were naive and thought it was fabulous!).

That apartment is also where I saw my dad for the last time, when he and mom were down to see a Leo Kottke concert with Katie and I on Nov. 24, 1996. (he died Nov. 26)

Run stats:

• 50°F
• 15.38 mi.
• 2:27
• 9:34 min./mi.
• 1895 calories
• Miles to date: 228.33
• Map of route

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 10:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Nice day to run Stone Arch— sunny, though rather breezy. I even ran through some light spray blowing over the bridge from the waterfall upstream.

Run stats:

• 62°F
• 3.9 mi.
• 34:00
• 8:43 min./mi.
• 458 calories
• Miles to date: 212.95
• Map of route

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 9:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last week of class; too much to do; too little time. But there's always time for a run, esp. when stress levels are high!

Run stats:

• 68°F
• 2.41 mi.
• 21:00
• 8:43 min./mi.
• 283 calories
• Miles to date: 209.05
• Map of route

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bad news, good news.

First, the bad: Eric couldn't run today as planned, so I ended up going quite a bit slower on my own. And I cut out a few blocks at the end, too, so I just missed 18. Still, not a bad effort. And a nice sunny (but not hot) day. WIth nice breezes.

Good news: over 200 miles run this season! So by the end of the marathon, I think I'll be looking at 300.

Run stats:

• 65°F
• 17.7 mi.
• 3:03
• 10:20 min./mi.
• 2145 calories
• Miles to date: 206.64
• Map of route

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 7:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

No, not the temperature, the speed! I was surprised at breaking the 8:00 barrier.

Run stats:

• 55°F
• 2.41 mi.
• 19:15
• 7:59 min./mi.
• 305 calories
• Miles to date: 188.94
• Map of route

Posted by Kristofer Layon at 10:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)